Podcast: evolving edtech and pedagogy in Spain

In our recent podcast from the Future of Schools series, I caught up with Mireia Pi, Head of Pedagogy from AulaPlaneta, the education division of the Spanish publishing and media company Planeta. Based in Barcelona, Mireia works with schools and administrations across Spain to understand what students and teachers in Spain need in terms of educational technology and communication tools.

Mireia is currently working on a project called Activa which helps schools to innovate by integrating digital resources and tools in their classrooms, as well as teacher training and accompanying services to schools. She does this in Spain, Mexico and Colombia, and points out the enormous cultural and systemic differences between the schools and education systems in these countries.

In this episode we discuss the changing attitudes of stakeholders in the education system in Spain. She talks about the understanding that Spanish schools have about the need to move from knowledge and memory skills to collaboration and problem solving skills. This puts pressure on the schools to organise differently and on teachers to teach differently.

Two or three years ago there was still a debate in Spain about if fundamental change was really needed, but now the conversation has shifted to the manner and direction of that change. However the continued absense of a clear vision presents difficulties for schools.

The vision for AulaPlaneta is clear. Mireia believes that integrating digital resources and tools, advanced communication tools and adaptive learning tools are key to achieving this change in education. She gives examples of different use cases for teachers in schools.

Mireia believes that classrooms in 10 years will look very different from classrooms today. Although change has been slower than expected, momentum is building. She talks about the need for education providers to work closely with schools to help them in their onboarding, and the importance for schools to work closely with parents to help in the understanding of what we are trying to achieve for their children’s education.